Merlin Award

Merlin Award Recipients

IMS LOCAL #1

Charter Meeting 03/09/2011

Below are pictures and information on IMS Local Chapter #1 First Meeting. The Date was set to the 2nd Wednesday of the month, and the meeting was started at 7:00pm. We had 14 entertainers show up. Emails were sent to local SAM, IBM and KIDabra members about this meeting. 14 persons at an initial meeting is a good start.
The location was chosen to be the same location as the KIDabra International Chapter meetings for varies reasons. One, it cost nothing, two, it has a magical atmosphere, three, there are lots of magic to play with. (This is not required, just made it exciting to new comers and great for conversations.)

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Available for reference are a variety of books, magic and a preset projection screen behind the curtain. The room can comfortable seat 35 persons.
Prior to the meeting I set up a snack table and if a guest wanted to bring a snack for the group, they were welcome. A few attendees were familiar with this set up and they did bring snacks. In the room there is a coffee maker, a refrigerator with water and soda, and a microwave for popcorn. Pens and cards were supplied for note taking.
Since this was our first meeting I got a cake to celebrate the start of a new and exciting magic club.
The meeting was opened and the members were thanked for coming. The snacks and drinks were explained and there was a sense of excitement in the air. If the leader of the meeting isn't excited about the meeting, then the attendees will pick up on that.
It is imperative for the success of a new group to get basic information on the attendees. Name, Address, Phone Numbers, and EMAIL address. 3x5 cards and pens were available to get this information. Additional cards were supplied for note taking.
After the Introduction, and meeting the members, getting the basic information, what better way to explain IMS then playing the opening Video Clip from the IMS Pro Video DVD set. Tony introduces himself explains the DVDs and the Certification Process.
After the Video, there was a discussion and a display of the available DVDs and Certifications available to the membership
After the discussion the floor was opened for Questions and Answers.

Obviously one of the first questions was,

"What is it going to cost me?"

The attendees were told they had to be a member of IMS which is a onetime Lifetime Fee of $50. Of the 14 present, six were already lifetime members. In addition there would be an annual operating fee of $25. The purpose of that money was for the coffee, sodas, water, snacks that was available, also there are sections of the Magic Academy where we as a group can learn hands-on from lectures on things like topits, linking rings, stagecraft, etc. that makes the meeting more interesting. Generally there would be at least one every year.

When are the Meetings?

They will be the 2nd Wednesday of the month from September to June. (10 Months)

Do we have to be certified?

Certification is an individual desire. Some of us want that certification. Some attendees had no desire to be certified.

Do we have to buy the DVD sets?

The purpose of the IMS Magic Academy is for you to learn the magic and routines that you desire. Also, to train the membership in the basic skills to be a professional magician. There is so much more we cannot teach you that is on the DVD sets, especially in only 10 meeting dates, in 10 months. To get the most out of the IMS Academy, a lot of self-study is necessary. At the meetings, which are workshops, it is our job as members to teach each other those areas where we desire to learn. If you want Linking Rings Jeff is good at that, when it comes to the Zombie there are several of us that can help you with that. This is true for sleeving, children entertaining, illusions and so much more. As an IMS Local Chapter Member, Tony Hassini has agreed to give the members a discount on the DVD set of choice.
Will Tony Hassini, ever come to our IMS Local Meeting?

It would be nice, and we sure hope so. He does live nearby, a couple of hours away. He has been here before and we helped him with the IMS Pro DVD set (Vol 30) on Children Entertainment.
Peter is explaing the benefits of the DVD set, "The Greatest Effects of Magic" which we used on our first meeting. We projected on the big screen the first Volume where Gary Darwin explaining a series of easy to due Productions (Vol 1 of 10). This DVD set covers the key basics of magic and we loved what we saw.
After the Video, Donna wanted to do some magic for her very ill brother who loved baseball. Jeff explained a "baseball card in the card frame" routine which she liked
I Explained to Donna, how the Zombie could be done using a baseball, and a hanger from the closet.
After the Video, an IMS Member asked if there were some simple and powerful coin productions that could be learned. We went over the ones that Gary Darwin explained on the DVD set and those attendees who were interested were given coins and they practiced the variety of moves. These coin effects were the planned objective of the meeting which was to perform a trick if someone asked, "Show me a Trick!"
These three video show a simple method of hiding two coins and instantly producing them
Here's the secret: the coin is pinched in the index finger and hidden from view by the other fingers.
There was plenty of notetaking by the attendees.Here Denise is writing about the coin pinch.
The instant production of a "Knot on Silk" as explained by Gary Darwin is performed by Dennis Thomas
Donna is practing the Zombie move while Adele is helping her by pointing out some finer move she saw Blackstone do on stage.
Dennis Thomas is trying Gary Darwin's method of spinning a silk into a rope for the Instant Knot on Silk Production.
Donna Horn is extremely excited about the easy to do "Instant Production of a Silk" as explained on by Gary Darwin.
Howard and Reba are practicing the "Instant Silk Production"
Peter Cuddihy expanded Gary's Instant Silk Production by demonstrating how "Instant Money" can be produced the same way as the Instant Silk Production
Reba is working with Denise on the Instant Knot on Silk Production. What is occurring is, everyone will be going home having learned and practiced something new.
Sunflower (Clown Name) who enjoys entertaining hospitalized children, found throwing a knot on a rope much easier than a silk.
There were a few other tricks with knots and rope the members present taught Sunflower.
Front: Howard Saul: Peter Cuddihy: Donna Horn: Edna Stimmler (Sunflower)
Middle: Reba Strong: Dennis Giovine: Denise Dowhy Sherman: Adele Friel Rhindress
Back: Steven Cambian: Hans Nebel: Dennis Michael: David Alvord
(Photographer/Member Jeff Carson not shown.)
We all posed for the group photo, those who wanted to become members were asked to go to the IMSMagic.com Web Site and join if they were not already IMS Lifetime Members. We ended the meeting at 11:30pm because time just flew by so fast when everyone was having such a good time.
If you have any questions about the IMS Local Chapters, Please email at DennisMichael@Dowhy.com Email Address.